Search - Premiata Forneria Marconi :: Live in U.S.A.

Don't miss this one

09/18/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent live album, from shows given in New York and Canada back in 1974. Excellent selection of tracks. "Alta Loma 5 till 9" (never released in a studio album) is a must have where Mussida's guitar is absolutely phenomenal, in a rather long (15 min, not quite long enough though...) and jazzy structure. Powerful interpretation of E' Festa/Celebration. Display of classical influence and virtuosity in "4 Holes in the ground". Classical guitar solo as intro to "Dolce Maria/Just look away". PFM is here at their best. "Older" PFM fans all remind of those years (1971-1975) as the very best... Would give 5 stars but sound could be a little better."

Good live album with mediocre sound

woburnmusicfan | Woburn, MA United States | 02/10/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are long-time PFM fans who think this album is the stuff that makes life worth living. I've had this album for at least 20 years and it doesn't do much for me. I've listened to 1998's "www-pfmpfm-it" in 1-1/2 years than I've listened to this in 20 years. That's not a knock, it's just intended to give some balance for prospective buyers who may not have heard the album already.The musicianship on the album is very good. "Four Holes in the Ground" and "Celebration" are done very well, despite being played at an almost frantic speed. "Just Look Away" changes up the arrangement from the studio version, including a long intro by Franco Mussida on the most electrified acoustic guitar you're ever likely to hear, and a more powerful close. But the album's sound quality is mediocre at best, not as bad as the terrible bootleg quality of "A Celebration" and "10 Anni Live", but below average even by '70s standards (was "Waiting for Columbus" the ONLY well-recorded live album that decade?). About one-third of the album is taken up by "Alta Loma Five Till Nine", a 15-minute jam of guitar and violin solos that follows "Mr. Nine Till Five". It's played very well, but how much you like it will depend on how much you personally like long jamming solos--if that's what you like, add another star. After listening to PFM's most recent albums, I can't help but notice that all of the vocalists have improved a LOT since the 70s.(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)"